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Chapter 8
On the way, they ran into Grandma Lin taking a walk with her grandson. Jiang Suihan remembered she still owed medical expenses. She took the money from her pocket and counted it. Her entire savings amounted to eight dollars and sixty cents, with two dollars of that being what she had managed to get from Huang Qiujun.
She felt a pang of desperation and was on the verge of tears. She had never imagined she would be so impoverished that she couldn’t even gather ten dollars from all her pockets.
Conflicted, Jiang Suihan handed Grandma Lin four dollars. “Thank you for taking me to the hospital. Please keep this four dollars for now. I’ll find a way to repay the rest as soon as possible.”
She felt a bit guilty, struggling to support herself and her brother while still owing money. She wondered why fate hadn’t struck her down with a thunderbolt.
Grandma Lin tried to decline the money, but after Jiang Suihan insisted, she accepted it.
Although she knew the Jiang family was struggling, her daughter-in-law had given her a hard time after learning she helped cover Jiang Suihan’s hospital fees. She had said if Grandma Lin had money, she should save it for her grandson instead of lending it to outsiders, especially when the chance of getting it back was uncertain.
Grandma Lin glanced at Xu Zhao, who was standing beside them. “The money isn’t urgent. You two siblings have had a hard time too. Who is this gentleman?”
Jiang Suihan hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth. She glanced at Xu Zhao to gauge his reaction before speaking.
Xu Zhao responded politely, “Hello, I am Comrade Jiang’s fiancé. Thank you for your help. I will cover the remaining expenses.”
From their conversation, he pieced together the situation. He thought his fiancée seemed to have a rough life, just recovering from a head injury and now being targeted by relatives who wanted to exploit her.
Grandma Lin waved her hand dismissively. “It’s just a small favor among neighbors. Her father had helped us a lot before. It’s nothing to speak of.”
Even though it was a small favor, Grandma Lin’s willingness to help despite everyone else avoiding the situation showed her kindness. Without her help, Jiang Suihan might not have survived. The doctor had said if she had been brought in even ten minutes later, she would have suffered from severe blood loss and might not have been saved.
Grandma Lin could not refuse Jiang Suihan’s insistence and accepted the money. “What are your plans for the future?”
The city was becoming more chaotic, and Jiang Suihan was beautiful while her family was in decline. Without someone to protect them, they would likely suffer. Sometimes, beauty could be a curse, bringing trouble.
Grandma Lin had a good first impression of Xu Zhao. Besides his reassuring military uniform, he seemed clear-eyed and not the type to have devious intentions.
With Xu Zhao protecting Jiang Suihan, she hoped that they would be alright. As an elderly woman, she couldn’t do much, but she wished for the best for the Jiang siblings as a way of repaying Father Jiang’s past kindness.
Xu Zhao glanced at Jiang Suihan. “I am currently serving in a unit in Li Province. If Comrade Jiang is willing, and doesn’t mind the remote location, I can take you both there.”
Li Province was far from Mingjiang City, and if something happened, it would be difficult to help from so far away. He was concerned that Jiang Suihan might not be able to endure the hardships of the remote area.
If she didn’t want to go to Li Province, it was still feasible for her to move to the capital city after their marriage, where his parents lived and could take care of her and her brother.
Li Province?
Jiang Suihan immediately envisioned the map of Li Province in her mind; it was indeed quite far.
She had been struggling to figure out how to leave Mingjiang City. This seemed like a timely solution, allowing her to leave openly.
Hearing Xu Zhao’s offer, she suspected he was considering the engagement seriously. Was she right?
Jiang Suihan glanced at Xu Zhao, uncertain about his intentions. She wanted to ask but hesitated in front of others and kept her question to herself.
Grandma Lin, who had never been out of Mingjiang City and didn’t know where Li Province was, genuinely advised, “You young couple should discuss it thoroughly. Leaving here might be good. There are too many troubles. Once things settle down, you can return if you want.”
What couple?
Jiang Suihan’s face flushed red, unsure how to respond.
Xu Zhao’s ears also turned slightly red. He glanced at Jiang Suihan but quickly looked away.
After walking a bit, Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but say, “Even though you said not to thank you, I still want to say thank you. I will repay you the money with interest in the future.”
Xu Zhao firmly replied, “No need to repay me.”
The amount of money was trivial to him. He had already decided to accept the engagement. Jiang Suihan was his fiancée, and their matters were now his responsibility.
Jiang Suihan insisted, “That’s not acceptable. Paying back debts is a matter of principle. It’s not about the money but about the principle. One must have principles in life and actions.”
Xu Zhao’s lips curled slightly. “As you wish.”
“So, what did you mean when you said you wanted to take us with you?”
Jiang Suihan couldn’t contain her curiosity and decided to ask directly rather than speculate.
Xu Zhao matched his pace with Jiang Suihan and slowed down. “I meant exactly what I said. As my fiancée, we are to marry in the future. With your parents gone and your relatives severed, you and your brother need support. It is my responsibility to take care of you.”
He stopped walking, looked at Jiang Suihan, and asked, “Do you not want to marry me?”
Jiang Suihan was taken aback, the conversation had shifted so quickly. “Marriage? I haven’t thought about it yet.”
Suddenly faced with an engagement, she was still adjusting to the idea and figuring out how to interact with him. Meanwhile, Xu Zhao was already thinking about marriage, which seemed like a big leap for her to keep up with.
Xu Zhao said, “Well, you can think about it now. Let me know your decision when you’ve made it. Regardless of what you decide, I will respect it. However, I’ve only taken a week off, so if you decide to leave, there are many things that need to be prepared in advance.”
He vaguely remembered that when he was young, an uncle had brought a delicate and adorable little girl to their home as a guest. The adults had joked about the little girl being a future bride for him. He had vaguely agreed at the time, but later, the families lost touch and the matter was seldom mentioned.
Since he had taken on this role, he felt he had a responsibility to fulfill it. He wouldn’t force Jiang Suihan to marry him if she didn’t want to, but he wanted to ensure he acted with a clear conscience.
Jiang Suihan was deeply conflicted. She had only met Xu Zhao once and didn’t know what kind of person he was. Marrying a man she had met only once felt overwhelming and confusing.
However, if she refused Xu Zhao and stayed in Mingjiang City, she faced threats from both predators and opportunists. She had no confidence she could survive in such a harsh environment.
She was just an ordinary girl who had traveled back in time without any special abilities or advantages. She struggled even with people like Qin Rongguang and didn’t know how to handle those who wished to exploit her family’s misfortune.
Jiang Suihan bit her lip. “I need some time to think. I’ll give you an answer by the day after tomorrow, or at the latest, tomorrow morning.”
Xu Zhao didn’t press her. “Alright.”
The three of them went to a nearby state-run restaurant for lunch. Xu Zhao asked what Jiang Suihan and Jiang Leyun wanted to eat. The siblings were not picky. They were just grateful to have something to eat. Xu Zhao quickly ordered and paid with money and food coupons.
The lunch hour was early, so the restaurant wasn’t crowded, and several tables were empty.
When the last dish, braised pork ribs, was served, Jiang Leyun swallowed involuntarily, his eyes showing clear desire. It had been over two months since he had tasted meat.
Xu Zhao handed Jiang Suihan a pair of chopsticks. “Go ahead and eat.”
The meal was enjoyable. Mingjiang City’s cuisine was relatively mild, and the chefs often added a bit of sugar, which Northern people like Xu Zhao sometimes found unusual.
Jiang Suihan focused on the meat first, taking a piece of the braised pork ribs. The flavor was excellent, rich and savory. She was tempted to learn this dish from the restaurant’s chef, though she knew it was their specialty and teaching her was unlikely.
“How’s the taste?” Jiang Suihan asked after Xu Zhao had eaten a few bites.
“Not bad, though a bit bland,” Xu Zhao replied.
He was used to various foods from his time on missions and had grown accustomed to different tastes. He was fine with the change of flavor and enjoyed trying different regional cuisines.
Jiang Suihan understood. “We’re used to it here. It might be due to the climate. Our local food tends to be sweeter and lighter compared to Northern dishes. It’s normal that you might not be used to it.”
She pushed the braised lion’s head closer to Xu Zhao. “Try this. I think it tastes really good.”
After lunch, they headed to a grain and oil store to buy food. Xu Zhao had exchanged for a lot of nationwide food coupons in preparation.
Indeed, the unfortunate person was Zhang Xiangqian.
Xu Zhao asked the staff for three pounds of flour and five pounds of rice. Since they arrived late, many items had already been sold out, so they picked up some white radishes, potatoes, and cabbage.
At the pork stall, only a bit of leftover lean meat and bones were left. Jiang Suihan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the pork. She quickly bought all of it.
Turning to Xu Zhao, she smiled, “I’m good at cooking. I’ll make you something delicious when we get back.”
Xu Zhao, with a natural grace, carried the heavy bags effortlessly as if they weighed nothing.
Jiang Suihan felt a bit guilty, seeing him bear the burden and pay for everything. She was embarrassed but had no choice but to accept, given her financial situation.
**
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Ayalee[Translator]
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